It's a game changer!

It’s that time of year again. The wind is blowing and the leaves are falling from the trees creating layers of leaves on your lawn. A question we often see at this time of year is “should we remove leaves in the autumn or leave them to mulch down into the soil beneath?”

So what are the main points to take into consideration when raking your lawn which isn’t just for tidiness? One of the main points you might have heard about is that your lawn needs to be able to breathe properly to get all of the light, water and air needed to maintain healthy grass throughout autumn and winter. A thick layer of leaves will smother your lawn, starving it of sunlight and oxygen; two things it needs to thrive. Without sunlight and oxygen the grass becomes weaker. Damp layers of unattended leaves can be ideal habitats for pests e.g. worms and can cause problems like snow mould , disease and brown patches for you to deal with in spring and summertime. Leaves can also block drains around your property causing flooding. Because of these issues which can arise due to large quantities of leaves, leaf collection should be done at regular intervals throughout autumn.

 

 

How to get rid of leaves

This can be done using a standard garden rake, however, if you have an Allett mower which accepts our scarifier or lawn brush cartridge this is an ideal solution to help you quickly and efficiently collect any fallen leaves and improve the health of your lawn. There is no need to be raking up leaves into piles and then picking it all up later to put it into bags- your Allett mower will collect them up in the grass box. The Allett lawn brush cartridge can be used for collecting a variety of light garden debris and can effectively collect and remove any debris such as, fallen leaves, twigs, grass clippings and more.

The Allett scarifier cartridge is one of our most popular cartridges and can provide you with just as an effective leaf collection as the Allett lawn brush. It's the perfect time now to use the scarifier cartridge to get rid of any thatch ahead of winter. It will also provide you with the ability to penetrate the surface of the soil allowing air and water to pass through the soil and reach the roots of the plant. You could also use a rotary mower if you have one to collect the leaves.

Take a look at this video for more information on leaf collection from Allett Mowers, featuring the Allett Kensington homeowner mower and the lawn scarifier cartridge.

Find a video of the Allett Stirling and Scarifier cartridge picking up leaves here

 

 

What to do with the leaves?

They’re an invaluable organic material for your compost so get them in your compost bin!  Make sure you are composting your leaves! Leaves can be used as a mulch in vegetable gardens, flower beds and around shrubs and trees. Leaf mulch when shredded properly can help to enrich your soil, lock in moisture and protect your plants from winter's fluctuating temperatures.

So, if you want the lawn to survive the winter, make sure to keep the lawn free of leaves. As autumn turns to winter, make the most of whatever dry days we might have by collecting the leaves from your lawns surface. If you need more help with maintaining a healthy lawn this autumn and winter, visit our Lawncare Calendar for a month-on-month guide to a healthy lawns.

 

 

Pine Needle, Pine Cone and Acorn Collection

Because they are so thin, ordinary rakes won’t work with pine needles.  You need to collect pine needles when they fall as they can be harmful to plants in your garden as well as the acidity causing your lawn to turn brown. Pine cones can cause damage to your cylinder blades.The scarifier and brush cartridge work beautifully for picking up both pine needles, pine cones  and acorns. See our video here .

Acorns on your lawn can hinder grass growth through blocking the sunlight from reaching the grass. They can also sprout and produce seedlings when they land which can then grow into oak trees! Another great reason for removing acorns is so you can walk on your lawn without the pain of standing on one! Acorns can also do great damage to your cylinder blades and if you use a rotary mower than they can be flying all over the place. Both the brush and scarifier cartridge are great for picking up acorns.

 

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